Wells may miss weekend series against Auburn

Alabama is preparing for this weekend's crucial SEC series against Auburn as if coach Jim Wells won't be there.

He's been gone most of the week back to Monroe, La., to be with his ailing mother, who is in ICU with heart problems.

Assistant coach Mitch Gaspard, who is filling in for Wells as acting head coach, said this morning it's not known if Wells will be back this weekend or not.

"He's pretty beat up right now," Gaspard said. "His father has passed away and it's been difficult on him. He's the only guy down there really running everything and taking care of everything with his mother. He's not gotten much sleep. One of our chaplins is going down there today to try to relieve him next day or so. He's beat down. It's been a difficult week for him. He's hanging in there at this point."

Gaspard said he has talked with Wells about twice a day to discuss baseball. Gaspard also said the two plan more lengthy conversations leading up to Friday night's first game against Auburn.

Assistant coach Dax Norris, a former Tide catcher under Wells, will call the pitches in Wells' absence, Gaspard said.